Dear Friend,

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the proud father of a veteran, I take our nation’s obligation to those who served personally. Right now, that promise is being broken. Our veterans are under attack by harmful cuts and mass firings, and I refuse to stay silent.

Earlier this week, I published an op-ed in the New Jersey Globe to call out these actions and stand up for the men and women who’ve worn the uniform. Please take a moment to read it below and share it with your network. Our veterans kept their promise to us. Now it's time we keep ours to them.

Norcross: America Can Never Break Its Promises to Our Veterans

Our servicemembers put their lives on the line to keep us safe and free. These brave men and women raised their hands to serve something greater than themselves: their country. When they complete their service, they are owed the benefits they earned and were promised by our grateful nation. I am disgusted that the Trump Administration has fired thousands of veterans and made cuts to their earned benefits.

Our veterans made sacrifices for their country. For most, that meant being stationed far away from loved ones and putting their lives on the line for our freedom. And when they returned home, the Trump Administration thanked them by taking away their benefits. As the father of a veteran, I take our obligations to our servicemembers and veterans personally. Their bravery and sacrifice do not end when they take off the uniform. And neither should our support.

On the House Armed Services Committee, I’ve focused on ensuring our servicemembers are equipped to keep us safe. They fought for us, and we must fight for them. I never imagined that we would have an administration that is cutting veteran’s benefits and firing thousands of veterans who have continued their service to our country.

That’s why I’m speaking out. Across the country, and right here in New Jersey, veterans working for federal agencies have already lost their jobs, and thousands more veteran’s jobs are under attack by the chaos and dysfunction of the Trump Administration. More than 1,900 employees have already been dismissed from the Department of Veterans Affairs alone. In the Republican-passed budget, they cut nearly $23 billion in funding for the PACT Act, a program that ensures our veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during their service get the benefits they deserve and have earned.

George Washington once said, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceived the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” We must keep our promises to our veterans, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it inspires the next generation of warfighters to ensure our nation is ready when we least expect it and most need it.

In VA hospitals, crisis hotlines, military bases, and construction sites, our veterans bring expertise and a deep commitment to the mission of keeping Americans safe and prosperous. The Trump Administration’s harmful cuts to both the veteran workforce and their benefits are not only wrong but could impact our national security by making it harder to recruit future servicemembers.

To make matters worse, we already face staffing shortages at VA hospitals. In 2023 alone, the Veterans Health Administration had to hire 61,000 new employees, including thousands of nurses and psychiatrists, because we were behind. And yet now, we’re cutting back more? We have to remember that when we fire veterans, we don’t just lose workers—we lose knowledge, compassion, and purpose. I always say the best social program is a good job. And if you’ve worn the uniform, if you’ve served our nation, you shouldn’t have to worry about losing your job.

Giving veterans the benefits and jobs they have earned should never be political. It is about keeping our promises. If we can afford to send our sons and daughters to war, we can afford to support them when they return. That means access to health care. It means education. And it means good jobs. To every veteran in New Jersey and around the United States: I see you. I stand with you, and I will fight to make sure our country keeps its word. We do not break promises to those who served. Not on my watch.

Read the article online here. 

Share Your Veteran Story on Trump’s Actions

Please remember my staff are also available to provide assistance with federal agencies. If you are experiencing problems with federal services such as Medicare or veterans' benefits, please contact the office at (856) 427-7000. We will work hard to ensure that your problem is resolved.

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Sincerely,

Donald Norcross
Member of Congress

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